Sectional conduit.



D. D. TRACY. SECTIONAL CONDUIT. APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1912.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914M maag dUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. .Y

IAVID D. TRACY, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JOHN H.

CASEY, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

SECTIONAL CONDUIT.

l Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. '7, 1914.

Application led April 4, 1912. Serial No. 688,446. e

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I.l Divin D. TRACY, acitizen of the United States, residing at the city of Jackson, county ofJackson, and State of Michigan, have invented certain. new and usefulImprovements in Sectional Conduits, of which the following is aspecifcation.

This invention relates to improvements in sectional conduits.

My improvements relate particularly to joints for sectional conduits andare especially designed by me for use or embodiment in concrete sewer orwater or other like pipes or conduits of large dimensions, although theyare desirable for use and can be readily embodied in conduits of varioussizes and intended for various purposes.

The main objects of this invention are,- first, to provide an improvedjoint for sectional pipes or conduits which is very secure and -may beeasily formed to be water and gas tight. Second, to provide an improvedjoint embodying these advantages which is very simple and enables thejoining of the sections as they are laid, the joints being quickly andeasilyT made. Third, to provide an improved sectional conduit in whichthe sections are joined so that they are capable of withstanding heavystrain.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details. willdefinitely 'appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devicesr and meansdescribed in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A. structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification, in which:

' Figure I is a detail central longitudinal section of a conduitembodying the features of my invention, parts of two adjacent sectionsbeing shown. Fig. II is a transverse section taken on a linecorresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. I. Fig. III is a detail horizontalsection taken on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. II, the jointfilling being omitted, the coupling member 4 being shown in full lines.Fig. IV is a detail transverse section on line 4 4 of Fig. I showing thearrangement of the reinforce and the coupling rods 6. Fig. V is onecomplete section and a detail ofthe coupling members, the female memberbeing in longitudinal section.

Fig. VI is a cross section corresponding to l Fig. II of a modifiedstructure, the conduit shown bein oval and all of the coupling membersbelng arranged on the inside of the joint channel instead of on theouter side thereof, as shown in Fig. II. Fig. VII is a detail section ofanother modified construction in which the openings connecting thefemale coupling members or sockets with the channel is in the end of thesection provided with the male coupling members instead of in theend ofthev section having the female coupling members as shown in the otherfigures.

In the drawing, ysimilar' reference characters refer to similar-partsthroughout the several views, and' the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

In the accompanying drawing, I have not attempted to maintain therelativeI proportion of the parts which might be desirable inpracticeV-that is, the thickness of the pipe walls relative to theirdimensions; and further, these are-varied under different conditions.

The conduit sections 1 are provided with opposed grooves 2 in their endswhich when the sections are brought end to end to abut as shown in Fig.I, provide channels at the joints. The grooves 2 are preferablydovetailed in cross section, thereby when the grooves are' thusdovetailed being double dove-tailed. The outer walls of the i groovesare preferably omitted at the top of the sections, see Fig. II,particularly where the conduit is of considerable diameter. Thusarranged with the sections abutting, I secure a closed segmental jointchannel for the lower part of the joint andan opensegmental jointchannel for the upper part of the joint, the open and the closedchannels supplementing each other to completely encircle the joint. Thesections are arranged end-to end or abutting and the channels filledwith cement 3 to completely seal the joints and join the sections. Theends of the sections are tlat,- that is, the planes of the ends of thesections are substantially at right angles to a longitudinal planetherethrough. This is of great advantage in laying the sections las willappear as the description proceeds.

the channel formed The sections are provided with latch-like malecoupling members 4 at one end and socket-like female or keeper couplingmembers 5 adapted to receive the members 4 on the adjacent ,sections atthe other' end. These coupling members 4 and 5 are preferably joined torods 6 arranged longitudinally of the conduit sections and embeddedtherein. The rods 6 arepref'erably ysecured to' the reinforce members 7which, in the structure illustrated, are of woven wire. The couplingmembers 4- all face 'downwardly andthe members 5 are iared out-- wardlyand upwardly so that the coupling members may be joined by adownward andforward swing of the sections.' This is of great advantage as itsubstantially obviat'es the necessity for both longitudinal and ro'-tary movement of the sections as they are laid,-that is, the sectionsmay be easily swung to position. as with a crane.v When it isvconsidered that these sections frequently are several feet in diameterand weigh several tons, the advantage of this is readily apparent. Wherethe conduits are oval as shown in Fig. VI it is of particular advantageto be able to place them Without any rotative members guide the sectionsso that they are always properly positioned. t

The socket or female coupling members open into ythe joint channelsthrough the opening 8 which in the preferred construction opens into thetop of the channels so that the filling readily flows into the socket toembed the male members therein as the joints are filled. The couplingmembers opening into the open portions of the channel are preferablyarranged on theinside of the channel while those` opening into theclosed portion of the channel are preferably arranged on vthe outside ofthe channeL-jsee Fig.l II. Thus arranged, they are out of alinement withthe channels so that the channels are unobstructed., This permits thelcleaning out of the channel' after the sections'lare laid before anattempt is made to introduce the cement thereto. vThis is of .very greatadvantage in working conditions should the joint become filledor cloggedin getting the 'sections in place, with such as thin mud, quicks'and andeven dryisand-or dirt, It can be readily swabb'ed, out preparatorytofilling with cement, making the joint as good as the body ofthe pipe.The arranging'of thel channel grooves asshown inFigsjI and II, locatesthe closed part of the channelas near the inside of the conduit asispossible and the open portion to the outside. 'The closed portion of thejoint being open at the top of the conduit, the joint cement or fillingcan be poured 'or forced into the joint while the conduit is restingupon the ground or in a ditch or the like, even when partlally embedded.

movement. VThe coupling- The open grooved top, can, ofcourse, be filledwith a trowel or the like. This is of very great advantage as it enablesthe work to be done quickly and the joint to be sealed from the outsideof the joint and above the conduit. A

It will be obvious that when the male and female coupling members of thesections are joined as by the rod 6, the coupling members ofthe conduitare secured in one continuous length, and a continuous reinforce as wellas coupling is provided. While this feature is of advantage, there aremany con.

ditions in which'the conduit is satisfactory without it.

The joints of my improved sectional conduit are very secure and veryeasily formed, even where the conduit is of large diameter. The jointlmay ybe conveniently formed as the sections' are' laid one at a timepandbrought end to end to engage the coupling members, and owing to thearrangement of the couplingv members, the sections' are readily swung toposition,

The joint is effectively sealed by filling the channels with cement andthis also serves to unite and connect the sections, particularly where'dove-tailed channels or grooves are used. The dove-'tailed channels,however, are not essential as a satisfactory conduit is produced'wherestraight channels are provided.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in a simple andeffective embodiment. I have not attempted to describe or illustrate thevarious modications which may be possible without departing from myinvention, but I wish to be understood j i tions being in planessubstantialy at right angles to their longitudinal planes, male couplingmembers having downwardly facing engaging hooks at theirends, upwardlyflared female coupling members having upwardly facing keeper portions attheirv inner ends coacting withv the hook" portions of said malecoupling members, the o ou pling members embraced by the open portion ofthe channel being disposed at the inner sides of the grooves, and thoseembraced by the closed portion of thel channel being disposed at theouter side-'of the grooves so that the closed channel 'of the ing` toprovide a closed segmental channel for the lower part of the joint, theends of the sections being in planes substantially at right angles. totheir longitudinal planes, male coupling members having downwardlyfacing engaging hooks at their ends, upwardly flared fem-ale couplingmembers having upwardly facing keeper portions at theirv inner endscoacting with the hook portions-of said male coupling members, the

` coupling members embraced by the open portion of the lchannel beingdisposed at the inner sides of the grooves, and

those embraced by the closed portion of the channel being disposed atthe' outer side` of the grooves so that the closed channel of the jointis unobstructed when the sections are brought to position, and a` cementfilling for said grooves and said female coupling members `embedding thesaid male coupling members. i

3. A sectional conduit comprising abutting tubular sections havingopposed facing grooves in their abutting ends, the outer wallsof thegrooves being omitted at the top of the sections, said grooves coactingto provide a closed segmental channel for the lower part of the joint,the ends of the sections being in planes substantially at right anglesto their longitudinal planes, male coupling members having downwardlyfacing engaging hooks, upwardly flared femalev coupling members havingupwardly facing keeper portions coacting with the hook portions of saidmale coupling members, and a cement` filling for said grooves and saidfemale coupling members embed-v ding the said male'coupling members.

' 4. A sectional conduit comprising abutting tubular sections havingopposed facing grooves in their abutting ends, the outer Walls of thegrooves being omitted at the top ofthe sections, said grooves co-act-ingto provide a closed segmental] channel for the lower part-of the joint,the\ends of the sections being in planes substantially at right anglesto their longitudinal planes, male.

coupling members having downwardly facing engagmg hooks, female couplingmembers having upwardly facmg keeper portions at their inner endscoacting with thev hook portions of said male coupling memchannel of thejoint is unobstructed when the sections are brought to position, therebeing openings from the channel to the female coupling members, and acement filling for `said grooves and said female coupling membersembedding the said male coupling members. t

5. A sectional vconduit comprising abutting tubular sections havingopposed-facing grooves in their abutting ends, the outer walls of thegrooves being omitted at the top of the sections, said grooves coactingto provide a closed segmental channel for the lower part of the joint,the ends of the sections being in planes substantially at right anglesto their longitudinal planes, male 4coupling members having downwardlyfacing engaging hooks, female coupling members having upwardly facingkeeper portions at their inner ends coacting with the hook portions ofsaid male coupling members, said' coupling members being disposed at thesides of the grooves so that the closed channel of the jointA isunobstructed when the sections are brought to position, and a cementfilling for said grooves.

6. A sectional conduit comprising abutting tubular sections havingopposed facing grooves in their abutting ends, thc outer walls of thegrooves being omitted at the top of the sections, said grooves coactingvto provide a closed segmental. channel for thel lower part of thejoint, the ends of the sections being in planes substantially at rightangles to their longitudinal planes, male coupling members havingdownwardly facing engaging hooks, female coupling members havingupwardly facing keeper portions at their inner ends coactingwith thehook portions of said male coupling members, and a cement filling forsaid grooves.

7. A sectional conduit comprising abutting tubular sectionshavingopposed facing grooves in their abutting ends, the outer walls ofthe grooves -being omitted at the top of the sections, said groovescoacting to provide a closed segmental channel for the lower part of thejoint, the ends of the sections being in planes substantially at rightangles to their longitudinal planes, malel coupling members, coactingfemale coupling members, said'coupling members being disposed at thesides of the grooves so that the closed channel of the joint isunobstructwalls of the grooves being omitted at thev top of thesections, said grooves coacting to provide a closed segmental channelfor the lower' part of the joint, the ends of the sections being inplanes substantially at right angles to their longitudinal planes, malecoupling members, coacting female couplincr members, said couplinmembers bein disposed at'the sides of t e grooves so t at the closedchannel of the joint is unobstructed when the sections are brought toposition, and a" cement filling for' said grooves.

9. A sectional conduit comprising tubular sections having abutting endswith registering grooves therein, theinner walls of the grooves beingcontinuous around the sections and their edges abutting throughout,

the outer walls of the grooves embracing they lower part of' the jointbeing edge toedge, whereby an unobstructed closed channel is providedfor the lower part of the joint entirely closed to the inside of theconduit, parts of the outer walls of the lgrooves at the top of thesections being omitted to provide exterior openings at the end of saidclosed channel through which it may be filled.

10. A sectional conduit comprising tubular sections having fiat abuttingends with registering grooves therein, the edges of the inner and outerwalls of the grooves being in theplane of the ends of the sections toprovide a closed channel at the joints, parts of the outer walls of thegrooves being omitted to provide openin s at the ends of the closedchannel throng which the channel may be filled from the outside of theconduit, and a cement filling for said channel.

11. A sectional conduit comprising abutting tubular sections having flatends with registering grooves, the edges of the inner and outer walls ofthe grooves abutting to provide a closed channel `embracing the lowerportion of the joint, a portion of the outer walls 'of the grooves atthe top of the sections being omitted to provide an open channel at thetop of thevsections constituting a continuation of the closed channelwhereby both the open and closed channels may be filled from the outsideof the conduit.

12. A sectional conduit comprising tubular sections having abutting endswith registering grooves therein, the edges of the inner and outer wallsof the grooves embracing the lower part of the joint being edge to edgeto provide an unobstructed closed channel at the lower part of thejoint, parts of the outer walls of the grooves being omitted to provideexterior openings through which the closed channel may be filled fromthe outside of the conduit.

13. A sectional conduit comprising abutting tubular sections havingregistering grooves, the edges of the inner andonter walls of thegrooves abutting to provide a closed channel embracing the lower portionof the joint, a portion of the outer walls of the grooves at the top ofthe sec tions being omitted to provide an open channel at the top of thesections into which the closed channel opens, whereby both the open andclosed channels may be filled from thel outsideof the conduit.

'In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in thepresence of two witj nesses.

DAVID D. TRACY. [Le] Witnesses:

JNO. H. CASEY, l HARRY VANDnRoooK.

